Cleaning utensil



June 16, 1936 J. MOMENAMIN "1 CLEANING UTENS I L Filed Nov. 29, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ETEIJ.

ll/Il I June 16, 1936. J. Mc E 4,361

CLEANING UTENSIL Filed Nov. 29, 1933 2 Sheets-sheet 2 3 Ci. c[ -E:

WITNESSES: INVEN TOR I JusE hNcMenamm Patented June 16, 1336 attain rarest carin CLEANING UTENSIL Joseph McMenamin, Philadelphia, Pa. Application November 29, 1933, Serial No. 700,261 3 Claims. (Cl. 215-208).

This invention relates to cleaning utensils, and has for an object to provide a device made of fibrous material embodying new and improved features for cleaning and cleansing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a utensil which, in one of its embodiments, will be in the form of a .dish cloth having interwoven into its fabrication threads presenting a considerable amount of abrasive function.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cleaning utensil having threads analogizing hemp intermingled with threads of greater.

strength and absorbency.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cleaning utensil having threads of material of the nature of hemp or the like, intermingled with threads of cotton or the like, whereby the cotton adds to the hemp absorbency and strength.

The drawings illustrate several embodiments of the invention and the views therein are as follows:

Figure l is a view in greatly enlarged detail of a fabric woven in accordance with the present invention wherein the absorbent threads are shrunk after weaving,

Figure 2 is a view of a fabric in greatly enlarged scale, woven in accordance with the invention, wherein the absorbent threads are preshrunk prior to weaving,

Figure 3 is a view in elevation of a utensil of the dish mop variety,

Figure 4 is a view in elevation of a utensil of th cleaning ball variety,

Figure 5 is a view in elevation of a modification wherein threads of abrasiveness, strength, and of absorbency are twisted into a single yarn, and

Figure 6 is a view in side elevation of a thread twisted from comingled fibres of relatively absorbent and non-absorbent properties.

Like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

It is well-known that a considerable number of fibres which are used for the making of cordage are relatively non-absorbent, such as hemp, jute, sisal and ramie, which are enumerated merely by way of example and not limitations.

It is also well-known that threads made from these fibres or some of them are relatively weak. It is al'o well-known that other fibres, of which, as an illustration, cotton is noted, without limitation, when properly spun and twisted presents much greater strength and absorbency.

The first mentioned fibres, for the purpose of convenience, will hereinafter be referred to as hemp, it being understood, however, that the term includes any and all fibers of the nature, and

that the strong and absorbent fibres will be referred to as cotton, without limiting the invention to the use of cotton, but to include any cordage of fibres presenting the strength and absorbency found necessary or desirable.

As shown in Figure l, the hemp threads in are interwoven with the cotton threads H in a regular I, 2 weave. At Figure 1 the hemp threads l0 are shown as ununiform in their structure and also crinkled. The ununiformity is the nature of the thread, while the crinkling is brought about in this instance by weaving the fabric of unshrunken cotton threads, which, when wetted, will shrink, whereas, the hemp fibres being preshrunk will not shrink and will, therefore, be crinkled.

This crinkling of the hemp threads will present them more prominently upon both surfaces of the fabric whereby they are in position to exert greater abrasive action when employed as a dish cloth, or for\similar purposes.

It is well-known too that the hemp fibre, as above outlined, or others of the group, are relatively non-absorbent and if woven without threads to carry moisture, will inadequately serve the purpose to which the fabric is directed, hence absorbent threads are interwoven with the relatively non-absorbent threads so that the completed fabric is not only strengthened by such absorbent threads, but also such absorbent threads will carry the necessary amount of moisture or liquid to make the non-absorbent threads eflective.

At Figure 2 the hemp threads here shown as l2 are likewise interwoven with the cotton threads I I, but in this case, the cotton threads have been preshrunk so that only the ununiformity of the hemp threads distinguish them from the cotton threads.

It is the preferred object in both of these cases to weave the fabric of hemp threads very much greater in diameter than the cotton threads, whereby both surfaces of either type will present more prominently for use the hemp threads, this being exaggerated in the type shown at Figure 1.

The fabric so woven is also adapted to be folded and secured about some type of enclosed absorbent ball to the form shown'at Figure 4, which covering likewise contains hemp threads l3 and cotton threads It.

. At Figure 3 a device is shown of the type indicated as a dish mop" wherein the hemp threads l5 are interspersed with cotton threads Hi. It is obvious, of course, that in this construction the cotton threads will add no strength to the hemp threads, but perform their function of carrying liquid the same as in the fabrics shown at Figures 1 and '2.

The weaving of the fabric or the construction of the dish mop, as shown at Figure 3, of separate cotton and hemp threads, may be varied by constructing a thread as shown at Figure 5 made up of one strand of cotton l1, and one strand of hemp l8, twisted together, or, as shown at Figure 6, with the cotton and hemp fibres intermixed and twisted together as a single strand is.

In any case, the cotton threads or fibres will tend to strengthen the device as an entirety, and will operate as an absorbing agent for carrying a liquid supply to the article being cleaned, which will be cleaned by the abrasive action of the hemp threads thereon.

I claim:-- a

1. A cleaning device comprising a plurality of flexible abrasive threads preshrunk and interwoven to provide cleaning surfaces, and a plurality of threads less abrasive than the first threads interwoven among said abrasive threads to distort the latter when subject to the efiects of moisture into a condition wherein the cleaning surfe thereof are roughened and maintaining the latter in position defining the roughened surfaces, the lesser abrasive threads having the property of absorbency to a relatively high degree with respect to the abrasive threads.

2. A cleaning device of the character described, consisting of a fabric comprising a plurality of preshrunk hemp threads interwoven to provide cleaning surfaces, and a plurality of unshrunk cotton threads interwoven among the first threads and affecting the hemp threads to hold the latter, when moistened, in crinkled condition to provide a roughened cleaning surface.

3. A cleaning device of the character described, comprising a fabric consisting of a plurality of hemp threads interwoven to provide cleaning surfaces, and a plurality of cotton threads interwoven among the hemp threads and of smaller diameter than the hemp threads, said cotton threads having the property of absorbency to a relatively high degree with respect to the abrasive threads, said cotton threads afl'ecting the hemp threads to hold the latter in crinkled condition to provide a roughened cleaning surface.

JOSEPH MCMENAMIN. 

